Friday, July 31, 2015

Hey y'all! Today on the blog I have a bestie twin nails post to share with you. This time with my good friend - The Polished Perspective! Make sure you go check out her blog and Instagram - she is so talented!

This is also my 100th blog post! Whaaaaa? I really couldn't have chosen a better post for the 100th, I can't believe I've come on here 100 times to write things. Thank you guys so much for reading and watching me grow as a nail blogger and nail artist over the last year plus. I have learned so much and hope to keep learning and growing as my blog grows! Anyway, let's jump right in, shall we?

Bestie Twin Nails with The Polished Perspective

We decided to do some watercolor nail art based on the image at the top there - found by TPP (The Polished Perspective). I tried to start out doing watercolor flowers but that was a fail so I did a watercolor base and drew some black floral outlines with acrylic paints instead!

I started with a base of Orly White Tips. Then I started blobbing Shinespark Pumped Pink, Psych'd Purple, and Yuppie Yellow on different areas of my nails. While the polish was still wet, I used a nail art brush and some pure acetone to thin out the small blobs and sort of smear them around on my nails until they had combined a little. I waited for all of that to dry and then used a striping brush to hand paint the floral details over the watercolor. Once the acrylic was dry, I topcoated everything with OPI Matte Topcoat.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Hey y'all! Today on the blog I have a swatch and review of the Envy Lacquer Rock Candy Collection - Brights Trio. Envy Lacquer's Rock Candy Collection consists of 3 brights and 3 neutrals that you can purchase in trios of the brights or the neutrals launching on August 1st but they are available for preorder right now! I have a few up front thoughts for this post - first of all YOU NEED the brights, all of them have lovely formulas that go on flawlessly and secondly - I just bought a new camera and its a bit of a learning curve. You may notice some lighting and color differences in my skin - neither of which skews the coloring of the polish in my opinion. Looking back on the photos I took, I believe the polishes themselves to be color accurate. I matted each of them which changed each of them to a darker color - that part is 100% accurate.

Disclaimers aside, let's get started with the swatches!

Envy Lacquer Razzmatazz - 3 coats with Seche Vite topcoat

Let's start off with Razzmatazz - a gorgeous fuchsia jelly polish filled with holographic microflakies. I mean...perfection in a bottle. The flakies are jam packed in this polish without making the polish thick or difficult to apply. I applied 3 thin coats plus topcoat and each coat was easy to apply. I mean, we're talking butter. I really can't say enough good things about these polishes - and the color of Razzmatazz is so stunning and juicy.

Razzmatazz with OPI Matte Topcoat

Razzmatazz with OPI Matte Topcoat

Macro of Razzmatazz with Seche Vite

Razzmatazz with OPI Matte Topcoat

Zapped Apple - 3 thin coats plus Seche Vite

Next up from the Brights Trio is Zapped Apple - a juicy green apple jelly with a ton of holographic microflakies throughout. The application and formula on Zapped Apple is identical to Razzmatazz, though its formula is a tiny bit more sheer. My swatch shows 3 thin coats plus Seche Vite topcoat. While the polish is heavily loaded with the flakies, I didn't find the formula to be thick or difficult to apply.

Zapped Apple with OPI Matte Topcoat

Zapped Apple with OPI Matte Topcoat

Macro of Zapped Apple with Seche Vite

Macro of Zapped Apple with OPI Matte Topcoat

Blueberry Blizzard - 3 thin coats plus Seche Vite

Last from the Rock Candy Collection - the Brights Trio is my favorite which is why I saved it for last! This is Blueberry Blizzard - a bright blue leaning teal jelly with tons of holographic microflakies throughout. The application and formula on this one nearly identical to the others except you could probably get away with 2 coats instead of 3 as it is a tiny bit more opaque than Razzmatazz or Zapped Apple. Again - there is no shortage of flakies in this beautiful polish but its not thick and goes on in easy, thin coats. This one looks more teal in certain lights and more blue in others - one of the reasons I love it. I like to consider myself a connoisseur of blue nail polish and this one definitely makes it up in my top ten. Simply gorgeous and a definite must have.

Blueberry Blizzard with OPI Matte Topcoat

Blueberry Blizzard with OPI Matte Topcoat

Macro of Blueberry Blizzard with Seche Vite

Macro of Blueberry Blizzard with OPI Matte Topcoat

That's it for the Brights Trio from Envy Lacquer's Rock Candy Collection, do you think you'll be picking these up? Here's where you can find them - go to Envy Lacquer's store where they are available for preorder RIGHT NOW - the trios are $25 each or if you wait until the August 1st launch, you can pick up the polishes individually for $9 each. You can also follow Envy Lacquer on Instagram to stalk upcoming collections!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Hey y'all! Today on the blog I have a swatch and review of 10 polishes from the SinfulColors Back To School, A Class Act collection to share with you! Directly from SinfulColors:

Get ready to hit the books and go back to school in style with the latest collection for Back To School from SinfulColors, A Class Act. The extensive array of fresh shades are perfectly on-trend with the latest fall fashions and will ensure that your mani is top of the class. Dusty pastels and pops of color come in a demi-matte finish that feels soft yet looks striking and is deserving of nothing but straight A's. Denim blues and ready-to-burst brights capture an effortlessly cool and rebellious vibe, while shimmering silvers, purples and teals with eye catching 3D glitters look just as chic during a night out on the town as they do in class the next day.

Let's jump straight to the swatches!

SinfulColors Purple Diamond

Macro of Purple Diamond

The first polish I swatched in the collection is Purple Diamond. This polish can best be described as a medium purple (think Amethyst) shimmer polish. It looked like it may have tiny micro flakes in it but it was hard to discern from the shimmer! A beautiful polish despite the fact that I don't care for frosty finishes - this is 3 coats plus topcoat. Purple Diamond self leveled nicely and I had no issues with the formula or application.

SinfulColors Ice Dream

Macro of Ice Dream

The second polish I swatched in the collection is Ice Dream. This polish can best be described as a silver and blue full coverage micro glitter. I wore it on its own in 3 coats here plus topcoat but you could probably get away with wearing it as a topper if you did a little dry brushing. I found the formula on this one to be easy and not thick or difficult to apply like some micro glitters tend to be. Ice Dream self leveled nicely and dried relatively quickly despite the 3 coats needed for opacity.

SinfulColors Chalk It Up

Macro of Chalk It Up

The third polish in the collection that I swatched is Chalk It up. This polish can best be described as a pistachio creme. Unfortunately, Chalk It Up and I didn't have a great time together - the polish is BEAUTIFUL and would be flattering on so many but it did not self level at ALL on me. What you see in this swatch is 2 coats plus topcoat but it took the topcoat to get rid of the unevenness of the application. Despite the inability to self level, Chalk It Up was opaque in 2 coats and dries to a satin finish so topcoat is necessary if you want it to be glossy.

SinfulColors Whiteboard

Macro of Whiteboard

The fourth polish in the collection that I swatched is Whiteboard. I am so bummed to have to report that Whiteboard and I didn't get along either. I really wanted it to work out because as a nail blogger - I am always in search of that holy grail white! I had self leveling issues as I did with Chalk It Up, and I had to use 3 coats to achieve opacity. Even with 3 coats I still had some streakiness but adding topcoat leveled it out so that they weren't noticeable. Whiteboard also dries to a satin finish so you'll want to add topcoat to gloss it up. Sorry Whiteboard! I had high hopes!

SinfulColors 24/7

Macro of 24/7

The fifth polish I swatched in the collection is 24/7. This polish can best be described as a medium pink creme. Ahhhh this was a welcome change after the previous two polishes - 24/7 has a perfect formula. Its opaque in 2 coats - shown here with 2 plus topcoat. It self levels like a dream and dries to a glossy finish. I had no issues with application.

SinfulColors Daredevil

Macro of Daredevil

The next polish that I swatched in the collection is Daredevil. This polish can best be described as a bright pink creme with a flash of blue shimmer. Another winner for me - Daredevil was creamy and easy to apply. Shown here in 2 thin coats plus topcoat, Daredevil self leveled easily and I had zero issues with application.

SinfulColors Sinful Sunrise

Macro of Sinful Sunrise

The next one up in the collection is Sinful Sunrise. This polish can best be described as an iridescent flakie glitter topper and boy is it fun! This reminded me of the beloved Green Ocean but in a pink jelly base with added bar glitter in addition to the flakies and glitter. This is one coat over Daredevil plus topcoat. No issues with application - no goopiness or fishing for glitter.

SinfulColors Night Owl

Macro of Night Owl

Up next is Night Owl. This polish can best be described as an iridescent flakie glitter topper in a lavender jelly base. This was another standout winner for me - the flakies are very dense in this polish making it really shine on without having to apply very much. This one also has little bar glitters throughout making it something extra special - which is saying a lot coming from someone who doesn't typically care for bar glitter! Again - no application issues or goopiness and I didn't have to fish for glitter here either.

SinfulColors Late Night Haute

Macro of Late Night Haute

Next to last of the swatches is Late Night Haute, another flakie glitter topper but this time in a blue-green base. This one is like the baby brother of Green Ocean! This one has the addition of bar glitters throughout but the flakies aren't as densely packed so you can wear this one when you're looking for a more understated topper. This is one coat over Zoya Robin with topcoat - I didn't fish for any glitter and it went on in a thin coat - no goopiness.

SinfulColors Energetic Red

Macro of Energetic Red

The 10th and final swatch in today's post is Energetic Red. This polish can best be described as a orangey red creme. In some lights Energetic Red definitely leans more orange and I love that its such a chameleon! Shown here in 2 thin coats plus topcoat, this polish had a flawless application and formula - zero issues to report from this one. In fact, I'm still wearing this beauty!

That wraps up my swatches from the Back To School, A Class Act collection by SinfulColors. This collection will be available for August and September 2015 at Walgreen's and other mass retailers for $1.99 each.

Thanks for reading!

**These products were provided to me at no charge in exchange for my photos and honest review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.**

Friday, July 24, 2015

Hey y'all! Today on the blog I have a few manis to share with you just for shiggles (thank you Tamara at Dancerspolishedlife for that fun word). These are just some manis I've done recently that don't have much purpose in a post of their own so I thought I'd pile them all together. Quick and easy and fun for y'all to look at! Let's take a peek, shall we?

Here's a watermarble using Shinespark Polish's 80's neon cremes with white stamping using UberChic Beauty stamping plates - these were so fun and summery. I love how easily the Shinespark neons watermarble!

And one of my most favorite manis ever using China Glaze Inner Beauty and Lorelei Lacquer Faithless Lover in a jelly sandwich and stamping over it with M Polish Guilded and Dancing in the Streets. I loved how they looked matted but I also have the glossy macro to show you!

Lastly is a clean and simple dotticure using Orly White Tips and Shinespark Polish Totally Teal. Dotticures are one of my favorite quick and easy nail art designs. I love teal and white together!

And that's it! See, I told you it was a quick and easy post! I loved these manis but I am sort of backlogged at the moment on posts so while I wanted to write about each of them, I didn't have the time. I still didn't want them to fall through the cracks!